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Grocery stores, taverns and a license and title service — during the past 100 years, all bore the Couri name.
The Peoria Historical Society recognized Couri’s License and Title Service for 100 years of serving the community at a dinner Aug. 31. Couri’s, along with 25 other area businesses, was inducted into the society’s Centenarian Club, a club which identifies and honors local businesses and organizations with a century of uninterrupted operation.
“It’s an accomplishment,” said Michael Couri, who runs the business with his brother, Robert. “There aren’t that many businesses that started back then that are still around.”
The Couri family business was started by the brothers’ father, Mike Couri, who made the journey from Lebanon to America with his wife, Kemla, in 1907.
“My father came from the old country and worked in the ash pit at the Rock Island Railroad,” Michael Couri said.
Three years after he arrived in America, Mike Couri used $65 he had saved from his job at the railroad to buy wood to build shelves and purchase products to sell out of the front room of his home on Washington Street in Peoria. He called his business Mike Couri Grocery.
Over the years, Couri opened Couri Brother’s Groceries with his brother Ed, Couri – Rafool Grocery with friend Tom Rafool, Mike Couri & Sons Groceries and Meats and Couri’s Complete Food Market. The family also ventured into the restaurant/tavern business, opening The Glee Club in 1934. In 1946, two more taverns,
The Diesel Tap and The Bee Tavern, were opened and operated by Couri family members. In business, Couri had help from many family members including some of his 11 children.
Michael Couri said his father did what he could to help community members in need.
“He practically fed the bottoms during The Depression,” Michael Couri said.
During a time when most could not afford to by groceries, Mike Couri extended credit to many families.
After 68 years of successfully serving his community, Mike Couri died Jan. 11, 1978. He was 92. Kemla died Nov. 21, 1988, at the age of 100.
While the family business made it through The Depression and the loss of its founder, Michael Couri said it was the expansion of larger stores that forced the family to leave the grocery business. In 1988, Michael and Robert Couri opened a quick mart, which evolved into Couri’s License and Title Service.
Michael Couri said he believes good customer service is what has kept the family in business for the past century.
For a complete list of this year’s inductees and all Centenarian Club members, visit peoriahistoricalsociety.org.
Grocery stores, taverns and a license and title service — during the past 100 years, all bore the Couri name.
The Peoria Historical Society recognized Couri’s License and Title Service for 100 years of serving the community at a dinner Aug. 31. Couri’s, along with 25 other area businesses, was inducted into the society’s Centenarian Club, a club which identifies and honors local businesses and organizations with a century of uninterrupted operation.
“It’s an accomplishment,” said Michael Couri, who runs the business with his brother, Robert. “There aren’t that many businesses that started back then that are still around.”
The Couri family business was started by the brothers’ father, Mike Couri, who made the journey from Lebanon to America with his wife, Kemla, in 1907.
“My father came from the old country and worked in the ash pit at the Rock Island Railroad,” Michael Couri said.
Three years after he arrived in America, Mike Couri used $65 he had saved from his job at the railroad to buy wood to build shelves and purchase products to sell out of the front room of his home on Washington Street in Peoria. He called his business Mike Couri Grocery.
Over the years, Couri opened Couri Brother’s Groceries with his brother Ed, Couri – Rafool Grocery with friend Tom Rafool, Mike Couri & Sons Groceries and Meats and Couri’s Complete Food Market. The family also ventured into the restaurant/tavern business, opening The Glee Club in 1934. In 1946, two more taverns,
The Diesel Tap and The Bee Tavern, were opened and operated by Couri family members. In business, Couri had help from many family members including some of his 11 children.
Michael Couri said his father did what he could to help community members in need.
“He practically fed the bottoms during The Depression,” Michael Couri said.
During a time when most could not afford to by groceries, Mike Couri extended credit to many families.
After 68 years of successfully serving his community, Mike Couri died Jan. 11, 1978. He was 92. Kemla died Nov. 21, 1988, at the age of 100.
While the family business made it through The Depression and the loss of its founder, Michael Couri said it was the expansion of larger stores that forced the family to leave the grocery business. In 1988, Michael and Robert Couri opened a quick mart, which evolved into Couri’s License and Title Service.
Michael Couri said he believes good customer service is what has kept the family in business for the past century.
For a complete list of this year’s inductees and all Centenarian Club members, visit peoriahistoricalsociety.org.
